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Chapter 5—Christians and the Production of
Liquor- Making Products
Many who would hesitate to place liquor to a neighbor’s lips, will
engage in the raising of hops, and thus lend their influence against
the temperance cause. I cannot see how, in the light of the law of
God, Christians can conscientiously engage in the raising of hops
or in the manufacture of wine and cider for the market.—
Christian
Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 32
.
Abstain From the Appearance of Evil
—When intelligent men
and women who are professedly Christians plead that there is no
harm in making wine or cider for the market because when unfer-
mented it will not intoxicate, I feel sad at heart. I know there is
another side to this subject that they refuse to look upon; for selfish-
ness has closed their eyes to the terrible evils that may result from
the use of these stimulants. I do not see how our brethren can abstain
from all appearance of evil and engage largely in the business of hop
raising, knowing to what use the hops are put.
Those who help to produce these beverages that encourage and
educate the appetite for stronger stimulants will be rewarded as their
works have been. They are transgressors of the law of God, and
they will be punished for the sins which they commit and for those
which they have influenced others to commit through the temptations
which they have placed in their way.
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Let all who profess to believe the truth for this time, and to be
reformers, act in accordance with their faith. If one whose name is
on the church book manufactures wine or cider for the market, he
should be faithfully labored with, and, if he continues the practice,
he should be placed under censure of the church. Those who will
not be dissuaded from doing this work are unworthy of a place and
a name among the people of God.
We are to be followers of Christ, to set our hearts and our influ-
ence against every evil practice. How should we feel in the day when
God’s judgments are poured out, to meet men who have become
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